Wagon-brake



(No Model,)

M. CONRAD.

WAGON BRAKE. No. 327,921. Patented Oct. 6, 1885 25m .[7W6l7i07r v 6W 4,

MM a: m ziw,

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN CONRAD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' WAGON-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,921, dated October6, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN CONRAD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inlVagon-Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to brakes for heavy wagons-as farm wagons, forexample; and it has for its object to provide a brake wholly supportedby the wagonbed, having a long throw of the brake-shoes, together withthe largest possible leverage on the part of the brake-lever, and,generally, a construction which is simple, strong, and effective.

Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, of a wagonwith my brake attaehed.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and pointedout in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a wagon-bed, and B B thewheels.

0 is the brake-beam, upheld from the bed by the metal straps c a, andcarrying the shoes 0 G.

D is a brake-lever having a pawl.

E is a brake-rack attached to the box, the ratcheled segment of whichrack is similar to other brake-racks in common use, but the lower arm,6, of which is extended below the bottom of the wagon-bed to form abearing for the crank-shaft F. Said crank-shaft F is placed beneath thebed in a horizontal position transverse to the bed and reaching to themiddle of the latter. Said shaft F is rotatably supported near its innerend in a bearing-block, G, fastened to the under surface of theWagon-bed, and at its extreme inner end is provided with a dependingcrank, f. To this crank are pivoted the front ends of the brace-bars H Hby means of a metal plate or plates, h, connecting them, substantiallyas shown in Fig. 2. The rear and widely-separated ends of the brace-barsH H bear against the front face or edge of the brake-beam O,

and are attached to said brake-beam by means of metal straps h, alsoplainly shown in Fig. 2.

The brake-lever D, at its lower end, is applied to the squared outer endof the crankshaft F, or is otherwise attached thereto in any suitablemanner, so that by vibrating said lever the shaft F will be oscillated,with the effect of swinging the pendent crank-arm f, and therebythrowing the brake-beam O backward or forward, according to the movementwhich is given to the lever D. The crankshaft F forms the pivotal pointor fixed fulcrum of the lever D, the short arm of the lever structure,as a whole, being, of course, the crank-arm f. This arrangement gives along leverage for the application of hand-power to the brake, and also along movement of the brake-beam G, by which the shoes 0' may be drawn adesirable distance, clear of the adjacent wheels B. 4..

The slight hinge movement which is required between the brake-beam O andthe brace-bars H H, by reason of the vertical movement of the forwardends of said bars in the operation of the crank f, is allowed by theflexibility of the connecting-straps h, or by their movement on thebolts 7L2. Said straps merely serve to draw the brake-beam forward,-

the wheels, and all wabbling or any binding of 8 5 the beam in itsguides or of the remaining joints or bearings is prevented, and thebrake is made to operate with ease and certainty. The straps h may beplaced, as shown, near enough to the guiding and supporting straps a toproperly limit the end-thrust of the brakebea-m C, or other obviousdevices may be employed for that purpose.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the wagon bed and wheels,of a transverse shaft, F, provided with a crank, f, and supported fromand beneath the bed, abrake-beam, 0, also supported In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

MARTIN CONRAD.

\Vitnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, LoUIs SOHIFFLIN.

